Linux for the IYONIX pc.

The IYONIX pc is able to run a full featured Linux system, as a powerful alternative to its native RISC OS. This version of Linux is based upon a port of ARM Linux kernel, and the flexible Debian distribution.

Iyonix Linux

Iyonix Linux provides a powerful environment for running Linux; either as an ARM development platform to avoid the hassles of cross-compiling and cross development, or just as platform for experimentation for existing Iyonix users, to perform activies that might otherwise need to be done on another machine.

Iyonix Linux supports most of the hardware of the machine, including:

  • DMA accelerated harddrive access
  • Full USB support for mouse, keyboard and other devices
  • UART access
  • 1000 Mbit Ethernet
  • On-board Sound
  • Accelerated NVidia driver for the X Window System
  • Real Time Clock
  • ...and support for additional PCI cards can be added

Iyonix Linux is based upon the current 2.4.21 ARM Linux kernel, with a 2.6 series kernel soon expected to be available. The software packages are provided by Debian, and uses the current "Woody" release, although it is easy to upgrade to the latest packages and receive security updates if required. Both the kernel and Debian ARM are being actively developed.

Debian ARM provides around 10000 packages in the current version, allowing you to pick and choose and install as much or as little as you like. Choices include the KDE and GNOME desktop environments, pictured to the right, which may be installed concurrently.

Iyonix Linux can be installed yourself, either from CD or the Internet, or provided preinstalled in several formats. Installation can take as little as 30 minutes, and support can be purchased if you get stuck.

The GNOME desktop environment

The KDE desktop on an IYONIX pc

Obtaining Linux

A collection of files etc needed to install from CD or from the internet is available here.

Pre-Installed on your system

It is possible to have Linux installed on your new IYONIX pc at purchase time. Please contact Castle for more details.

On CD

Linux is available to purchase on CD or set of CDs from chocky.org which contain everything you need to install Linux on your IYONIX pc. Updates can be downloaded from the internet. Alternatively you can contact IYONIX Ltd sales.

From the Internet

Debian has not yet integrated the all the changes required for the IYONIX pc, so in the meantime the required install files are hosted on iyonix.com. Network install instructions are provided in the RISC OS Debian install guide.

Installed on a harddrive

Linux can be purchased on a separate drive which you can "plug in and go" on your IYONIX pc. This saves you the time consuming repartitioning required to share your drive with RISC OS, and avoids the many pitfalls of installing it yourself. You are provided with a ready-to-go system with many applications for you to try out. This service is provided chocky.org.

Support and Updates

Please email any general queries to linux@iyonix.com. Note that we can only provide a basic level of support. For more detailed support, Debian CD purchases include one month support, and further support for network or third party installs can also be purchased. See chocky.org for more details.

Files

Whilst we always try and send improvements back to Debian, or the appropriate parties, these changes can take time to propagate, so in the meantime, some updates are provided here.

XFree86 Binaries

The default XFree86 binaries in Debian do no work correctly on ARM. This archive contains replacements. It is not needed for installs from CDs purchased from 2004, as it is included.

After the xserver-xfree86 package is installed, you should unpack this archive into the top level of your filesystem (as root):

      tar xfvz XFree86-Iyonix.tgz

You may need to alter the 'BusID' line in your /etc/X11/XF86Config-4 file to match the physical location of your video card on the PCI bus. You can determine the correct value from the output of 'lspci' or the contents of /var/log/XFree86.0.log after running X.

Notes:

  • This archive contains a default XF86Config-4 file (in /etc/X11) which you should edit to suit your monitor. It is set to use 1280x1024 at 75Hz using 24bpp. You may wish to experiment with 'fbset -x' and 'xvidtune' to get usable parameters
  • The palette is incorrect in 15/16bbp modes. Stick to 8 and 24bpp. This may be fixed in future.

Iyonix Kernel

This is version 2.4.21 of the Linux kernel for Iyonix, which is also the default from 2004, but is provided for upgrades from older installs.

The source patch is made available for those who wish to recompile the kernel. This is against the MontaVista BitKeeper tree, details of which can be seen here.

Credits

The Linux port to the IYONIX pc was carried out by Peter Naulls, with important contributions by Peter Milne and John Ballance.

Helpful advice was also given by: Ralph Siemsen, Phil Blundell and Vincent Sanders.

Sponsorship from Xios made the video driver and some kernel improvements possible.

The Iyonix HAL sources were also invaluable as a source of information whilst developing this port.

Linux is a trademark of Linus Torvalds
ARM Linux is developed by Russell King
ARM is a trademark of ARM Holdings PLC.
Debian is a registered trademark of Software in the Public Interest, Inc.

Contact: linux@iyonix.com